New Years Hurray!

One could really become philosophical about it, but for now, I will just report the facts.

I was raised not to waste. My family were not at all environmentalists, but it simply did not have access to all the easy things. So, preserving everything and anything became my second nature. Lots of people find it funny or simply crazy, but look, what is happening now.

I just learned that people spend money to buy reusable bags to buy their fruits in. It is really great that they do that, but actually, you get everything you need with your shopping. In order to make reusable shopping containers, the bags should not weigh much as you do not want to pay over for it at the cashier. Therefore, in contrast to the nets in my former blogs, this time I did not put fancy gimmicks on the nets and simply used a waxy thread for closing. Waxy quality is important as the thread should slide smoothly through the net.
Hurray, here are your light-weight reusable shopping helpers!

Isn't it funny, you can buy the same bags I make from used shopping nets in hardware stores and in (!) bio-shops. Folks, just do not rip open your purchase, think first about its second live! By the way, the garlic net on the right is the perfect protector for one of those slippery thread spools which keep unwinding. Something you could buy as well; I have written about that before.

More on the topic:
People buy bags to collect their trash. I always wondered why they do that as one cannot avoid getting bags with any shopping trip - and I am not talking about those you can refuse at the cashier. No, apples are bagged, so is toilet paper and stuff you order via the internet. Lots of bags around. Size and shape may be not so great to fit the trash container, but who cares - just be a bit more watchful when you fill in the trash.

With that - have a great start into 2019!

Leftovers and more

Winter season, the mood changes, and I switch to other material for a while. Having a woodworker for a partner makes much possible. Here we found uses for his "leftovers".
Enjoy the quite time!

Blue nets...

 ... are rare, but the little I had inspired this shopper with felt handles and lining. Loop-knitted.

Neon leather

It was at a fabric market where I met this guy who offered leather in all the crazy colours. I so had to restrain myself!! But cold not help it and bought the neon velvet skin. It does not come out so well in the picture, but the bag irradiates summer, fun and lust for live.

Lack an' leather

Not quite,but the combination of plastic trash with valuable accessories works. The clutch is fully lined, of course.

Bathroom blue

The last for while with thick threads. This basket was woven with uncut sacks. I followed the urge to try and it definitely has its uses, but I like the work with thin threads better - it somehow has more finesse.

Simple for fancy

In the early days, I went to great lengths to decorate the nets. But it needs just a fancy ribbon, to put them to use again.

Inspired by blue

The idea was to work with thicker thread so the sacks were not cut in stripes. A wool/thread I found in Ghent at a flea market was used for crocheting.

Münster Zukunftsmacher

Just heard: our initiative "Save the potato sack" is now part of our home town's "Future Maker" initiative.

So happy about the trash!

The other day I received an unexpected package full of vegetable sacks from a biofarm in Mecklenburg. Most were blue, white an purple, which was so great, because typically all I ever get are orange. It may sound strange to some, but this "gift" made me really happy. Thank you and keep sending:)

Round'n round

Large shopper with lining and felt bottom. Made with a large knitting loom.

Party light

Impromtu lamps for the next garden party? The plastic frame is also useful for many other things like individually designed flower pot covers.

Bad shoulder

The plan was to knit the material, but my shoulder hurt. So I decided to bobbin-lace. The lining is one of those ad-bags, rim and bottom real leather.

Olive's new jacket

Learning embroidery and having fun with potato nets. The stitching patterns are by courtesy of a free internet site, not my job - thank you guys!

Add embroidery

Got myself a treat and purchased a combined sewing-stitching machine. It was put to good use immediately.

By the way - the red shoulder bag was inspired by the spiral binder from an old calendar.


All bags are lined and have an inside compartment.

Christmas in Summer

Received a few of those nets they sell the Christmas trees in and went right to work. The nets have a silvery shine so they are great for clutches.


















But this time, there was also material with a little bit of blue in it. It was just sufficient to form the bottom of this beach bag. I lined the inside of the bag with potato nets to make it more sturdy. 

Shoe bags

Didn't know that shoe bags are needed until I started Scottish dancing. Now I see them everywhere.







 

Thread net

For embroidery the thread is quite slippery. They sell you nets to put around the spool. Well, here is a new use for your throw-away fruit nets!

While we are at it...

My father used to dig out the roots of the trees he felled, turn them around and "plant" them into the garden or the sitting room for decoration. When he died, bobbin-lacing one of them felt like the thing to do.